* Offiical NBA Off-Season Thread: I'll give one of my damn kidney's for these Melo rumors to stop *

[bigmike23]

Spin in 3......2...1

 

[airjordan jb23]

Wright still has a potential to have a solid career. Injuries have slowed him down though.

 

[robby valentino]

Im a TWolves fan.
Rubio doesnt wanna come here....certain other NT Twolves fans have made a career out of lying to themselves about such

 

[bangdak]

Wright hasnt played much in the past two years due to injuries.






i dont see whats so outlandish about asking for love + 4. the whole world knows Minny isnt that found of Love, so why not try to get offer possible?


Randolph has the potential of being able to play from the 3, down to the 5. He has the speed and length, he just needs to work harder because theres times where he just looks completely lost out there.

 

[westcoastsfinest]

Originally Posted by Laced Up Jordans

^ Look at dude's sn and laugh at his trade proposal of the #4 and Love. GS fans always overrate their players. Remember them being all hyped up over Brandan Wright?

this.

 

[h3at23]

KCJHoop
  
Thibodeau has accepted offer. Neither Bulls nor Celtics will confirm officially during NBA Finals

 

[airjordan jb23]

Curios to see how he turns out as a head coach. He's had rumors about him getting offers for a couple off seasons now.

 

[jmause3]

Source: Thibodeau accepts Bulls' offer

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By Roman Modrowski and Nick Friedell
ESPNChicago.com

Although an official announcement will have to wait until after the NBA Finals, Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau has accepted an offer to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bulls, a source told ESPNChicago.com on Saturday.

ESPNChicago.com Bulls blog

Bulls blog The latest news from Bulls reporter Nick Friedell. Blog

This development comes after ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Thibodeau had withdrawn his name from consideration for the New Orleans Hornets' coaching job.

In addition to getting interest from the Bulls and Hornets, Thibodeau was a strong candidate for the New Jersey Nets' coaching opening, Stein reported. Thibodeau interviewed with the Nets before the Celtics left the East Coast for Los Angeles for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Early in the Bulls' coaching search, conventional wisdom indicated the team was looking at candidates who had prior head coaching experience. Thibodeau's extensive experience as an assistant, however, was enough.

ESPNChicago.com had reported the Bulls were impressed with Thibodeau's basketball knowledge after a recent interview.

Those who worked closely with Thibodeau had high praise for him.

"Tom's a workaholic," Celtics forward Paul Pierce told ESPNChicago.com recently. "I'm always catching him in there working, watching film in his office. He's probably the most prepared coach I've ever seen."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers agreed.

"It's tough to get a picture of him, because he's always in the office," Rivers told ESPNChicago.com.

"Tom has great focus and [the players] buy in. That's really important. You can sell it, what we want, but we make it a point that, if you don't buy in, you don't play. I think whenever you have a -- [Orlando Magic assistant] Brendan Malone, the same thing here -- the Magic know Brendan, just like [the Celtics] know with Thibs, Stan [Van Gundy] is going to back Brendan 100 percent and I'm going to do the same with Thibs."

Prior to his stint in Boston, Thibodeau served as an assistant in Minnesota, San Antonio, Philadelphia, New York and Houston. Thibodeau will replace Vinny Del Negro, who had an 82-82 record in two seasons with the Bulls.

Roman Modrowski is a senior editor for ESPNChicago.com. Nick Friedell covers the Bulls for ESPNChicago.com.



I like the hire for us

 

[jpzx]

Did any of you actually read the article?

  It was completely optimistic towards the Rubio-to-Minny deal. Some of you are just letting the headline fool you. Try reading it...

 

[h3at23]

[h1]Blazers look into hiring new GM[/h1]

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports 45 minutes ago

The Portland Trail Blazers have empowered a private headhunting firm to research and reach out to potential general manager candidates, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The use of the firm is further evidence embattled GM Kevin Pritchard has fallen out of favor with ownership and likely will be replaced before next season.

At least two current NBA front-office executives have been targeted, sources confirmed, and the firm has also made several fact-finding calls about Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti.

Pritchard lost a power struggle with Blazers president Larry Miller. His top ally and assistant GM Tom Penn was fired late in the season. Pritchard had sought a contract extension last year only to be rebuffed. AOL Fanhouse reported Pritchard’s courtside seat next to owner Paul Allen had been taken away this season.

Ownership has refused to give Pritchard a public show of support, and multiple sources say Vulcan Inc., which oversees the Blazers, had become fed up with Pritchard’s egocentric behavior.

Sources say some potential candidates are uneasy about the ownership dynamic in Portland. Vulcan Inc. has a history of meddlesome behavior, and some established NBA front-office executives are hesitant over a structure where they fear they’ll have little chance to establish and carry out their own philosophies and organizational framework. With Miller and popular coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers have two powerful and entrenched figures firmly in place.

Nevertheless, this is still a largely appealing job because of the solid state of the franchise’s talent base and a motivated and wealthy ownership group. Pritchard is still preparing for the June draft and making cursory calls on potential trades. Agents dealing with him say he’s toned down his verbiage, no longer making bold proclamations about his ability to buy draft picks and move up to snare their clients. It’s clear he can do little, if anything, without the approval of his superiors.

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Originally Posted by JPZx

Did any of you actually read the article?

  It was completely optimistic towards the Rubio-to-Minny deal. Some of you are just letting the headline fool you. Try reading it...

I can vouch for you on that. Although it seems like Rubio's arrival won't be till the 2012-2013 season

wow thats a long time

But at the same time that gonna be 3 years since he's been drafted, and a lot can/has changed from the time he's been drafted till 2012, so even if they are optimistic about his future in Minni I don't think its far fetched to think that he will be making his NBA debut somewhere else rather than Minnesota.

 

[jpzx]

^ Good, someone who is literate

Although, him saying he won't play before 2011 means he won't play in like 2010 and other $+#. He'll be here in Minny (or on another team) by the 2011-2012 season.

 

[h3at23]

[h1]Reshuffled front office isn't slowing Cleveland Cavaliers' off-season trade explorations[/h1][h4]

[h4]By Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer [/h4][h5]June 05, 2010, 8:21PM[/h5]

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerWill the off-season changes around the Cavaliers include an effort to trade point guard Mo Williams? Indications are the front office are dabbling with other teams to determine his trade value.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One message has become quite clear since the Cavaliers' season ended just three weeks ago. Team owner Dan Gilbert is not interested in status quo.

He's fired the coach, accepted the resignation of the general manager and there are no signs of stopping.

Gilbert has qualified these moves by saying he will not be afraid to take risks. Or as he said Friday: "The unknown is just that."

With that in mind, league sources have indicated the Cavs have begun to consider taking some risks with their roster. That may even include seeing if a trade makes sense for one of the most popular players on the team.

According to multiple league sources, the Cavs are testing the trade value for point guard Mo Williams, among other players. It is part of what appears to be an effort to tweak the entire backcourt, as Delonte West is also on the trade block.

These talks are being piloted, sources said, by new general manager Chris Grant. However, the decision to determine Williams' value could mostly be the result of the two weeks of in-depth conversations led by Gilbert on the state of the team. The products of those talks resulted in the firing of Mike Brown and Danny Ferry's decision not to seek another contract.

It is not assured that the Cavs will make a deal. This is the time of year when teams amp up trade discussions prior to the draft. Last year, the Cavs traded for Shaquille O'Neal the day before the draft but started the discussions for that deal in the first week of June.

Williams has been the best scoring guard LeBron James has played with in his career. Because he can play both off the ball and with the ball effectively, he has proven to be an excellent fit with James, who usually has the ball in his hands.

This season, Williams increased his assists and did not complain when his shots went down as O'Neal and Antawn Jamison joined the team. He is well liked within the locker room as well. In 150 regular-season games, Williams has averaged 16.9 points and shot 45 percent from the field.

In other words, he's been a valuable player.

But in 25 playoff games, Williams' scoring and shooting percentages have dropped even as his minutes have gone up. He has not performed well under the postseason pressure and at times has gotten down on himself.

This seems to be what might be concerning the Cavs as they evaluate their team. After winning 127 games over two seasons but coming up short of even making the Finals, they are reassessing what they really have.

"One thing we've learned is how different the postseason is from the regular season," Gilbert said.

Williams' defense is another issue. While he's generally improved defensively over the last two years, the Cavs have matchup disadvantages with top teams in the East. Williams was limited in what he could do defensively against Derrick Rose of the Bulls in the first round and Rajon Rondo in the second round.

Had the Cavs advanced, Jameer Nelson of the Magic might have been an issue in the conference finals.

Over the last two playoff years, Williams has often been removed from guarding the opposing point guard in favor of players Brown felt were better matchups.

Nonetheless, he is a former All-Star and getting fair return value might be a challenge or just impossible. That is what the team seems to be determining at the moment.

Williams has three years and $26 million left on his contract and that will make it harder to move him. However, in an uncommon circumstance, his deal actually reduces in annual salary after the 2010-11 season. Also, Williams has opt out clauses after each of the next two seasons.

As for West, the motives for a trade may be different. Just as it is hard to believe the Cavs might want to trade Williams, just a year ago West seemed like he was going to be a core player for the foreseeable future. Especially because West had a history of increasing his level of play in the postseason and is a strong defensive player.

West's level of play fell off this past season as he battled both legal and emotional problems that contributed to losing his starting job. But that might not be the central reason the Cavs would look to trade West -- it is because of his contract.

Scheduled to make $4.6 million next season, West is only guaranteed $500,000 if he's waived by Aug. 5. That means a team could save a significant amount of money by trading for and then releasing West. Savings like that is hard to get in the summer, and West's style of contract makes him one of the Cavs' biggest trade assets.

[/h4]

 

[h3at23]

[h1]NBA stands at LeBron’s beck and call[/h1]

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports 1 hour, 9 minutes ago

World Wide Wes has been telling everyone that he believes LeBron James(notes) is leaning hard toward signing with the Chicago Bulls. No one can be certain if basketball’s most famous middleman has been whispering honest insights to friends or amping the anxiety of Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert. Just know this: It wasn’t until Tom Thibodeau – who swore he never again wanted an agent – signed with William Wesley’s CAA that the Chicago Bulls grew serious about the coach’s candidacy.

LeBron James is already influencing coaching and front-office decisions a month before he officially becomes a free agent.
(NBAE/ Getty Images)

Something pushed Bulls officials to get on a plane, fly to Los Angeles on the eve of the NBA Finals and meet with the Boston Celtics assistant coach. Within 48 hours, the Bulls had a deal for Thibodeau to become their head coach. For several weeks, the Bulls had chances to interview him. They never did. Just a year ago, Thibodeau couldn’t get offers from the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia Sixers and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Celtics see him as a career assistant and wouldn’t even consider him as a candidate to replace Doc Rivers.

 Only now, Tom Thibodeau has a three-year contract to coach the Chicago Bulls.

As one front-office executive with a franchise that has significant salary-cap space this summer said, “I think all the big free-agent deals will be done by July 1, if not the draft. The NBA would have a cow if [it] knew what’s going on now.

 

[h3at23]

If Wes says he might be a Bull then it's over. Bron WILL be a Bull

 

[yeeupp]

[h1]Source: LeBron, Bosh Seriously Considering Joining Wade In Miami[/h1]
Jun 05, 2010 11:40 PM EST

According to "an NBA source close to the discussions," LeBron James and Chris Bosh are seriously considering joining Dwyane Wade to play together in Miami.

All three would have to take significant pay cuts to play for the Heat. Miami is expected to have salary cap space for more than two maximum-salary contracts but well short of enough room for three.

You can smile now H3at23.

 

[h3at23]

 

[agentarenas]

Originally Posted by YEEUPP


[h1]Source: LeBron, Bosh Seriously Considering Joining Wade In Miami[/h1]
Jun 05, 2010 11:40 PM EST

According to "an NBA source close to the discussions," LeBron James and Chris Bosh are seriously considering joining Dwyane Wade to play together in Miami.

All three would have to take significant pay cuts to play for the Heat. Miami is expected to have salary cap space for more than two maximum-salary contracts but well short of enough room for three.

You can smile now H3at23.

 

[jpzx]

What if they all signed one-year deals with Miami and basically said, "Were all in for this year, championship or bust"

What if year-after-year all three of them signed one-year deals with a specific random team and proceeded to rattle of like 10 straight ships with 10 different teams 

 

[h3at23]

 

[yeeupp]

Originally Posted by JPZx

What if they all signed one-year deals with Miami and basically said, "Were all in for this year, championship or bust"

What if year-after-year all three of them signed one-year deals with a specific random team and proceeded to rattle of like 10 straight ships with 10 different teams 

That would be crack,

But won't happen with teams not wanting to take on salary, cuz everyone would anticipate being the next team..

 

[steve cash]

Lebron should just take a pay cut either way, join a team and let them sign some young talent on the market or do some trades. Dudes gonna be making way more money off sponsorships and what not. I know that, he knows that, and so does everyone else.

 

[grimey]

He's LeBron though..

 

[steve cash]

Originally Posted by Grimey

He's LeBron though..

and he wants to win a championship...

hes got amazing stats, 2 mvps with more on the way, hes gonna be making money for the rest of his life basically. even after he retires from basketball.

10+ mill a season is good IMO if dude cares about putting something on his fingers which leads to more money.......

 

[airjordan jb23]

Even though winning is important to these guys, this will be the biggest pay oppurtunity of their playing career, with maybe 1 more left. It'll be their biggest contract oppurtunity, so money will be their 1st option, & rightfully so.